By Peter Adelowo
An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Chief Uche Nwosu, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa for what he described as improved security operations across the country, particularly in the fight against banditry, insurgency and kidnapping.
Chief Nwosu, who made the remarks during an interview with newsmen in Abuja, stressed the importance of appointing professionals with deep sectoral knowledge into key government positions, noting that such decisions are already yielding positive results.
He said the appointment of a retired senior military officer as Minister of Defence has brought renewed confidence to Nigeria’s security architecture.
According to him, unlike past situations where ministers depended largely on briefings from subordinates, the current Defence Minister understands military operations from experience, having risen through the ranks from Major General to Lieutenant General.
“The difference is obvious. With General Musa at the helm, it is no longer business as usual. He understands the terrain and the strategy. That is why we are seeing results,” Chief Nwosu said.
The APC chieftain noted that recent military offensives have significantly disrupted the activities of bandits, forcing many to flee their hideouts.
“They are now being met in their camps and hit hard, instead of allowing them to strike and escape. This approach has restored public confidence,” he added.
Chief Nwosu observed that the improved security situation has encouraged Nigerians to resume road travel, especially during the festive season, with fewer reported cases of kidnapping along major highways.
He rejected calls in some quarters for dialogue or negotiation with bandits, insisting that criminals who kill, kidnap and demand ransom do not deserve such concessions.
“You don’t negotiate with people who invade communities, kill over 100 people and abduct children. They don’t negotiate when they are killing,” he stressed.
While urging the Federal Government to sustain the military momentum in states such as Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Borno, Plateau and other flashpoints, the APC chieftain called on political leaders to think critically about the future of the country.
On the economy, Chief Nwosu acknowledged the hardship faced by Nigerians due to rising food prices but noted that the cost of staple foods, particularly rice, has reduced significantly.
He said the price of a bag of rice, which previously sold for as high as ₦95,000 to ₦100,000, has dropped to between ₦45,000 and ₦55,000 in many markets.
“That is a big relief for many Nigerians. Prices of other food items like beans, groundnuts and millet have also come down,” he said.
He attributed the improvement to government interventions and urged President Tinubu to channel more resources into the agricultural sector, stressing that sustained security is essential for farmers to return to their farms.
“If banditry is crushed and agriculture is fully supported, Nigeria can become the food basket of Africa,” he said.
Speaking on developments in the petroleum sector, including recent price adjustments by the Dangote Refinery, Chief Nwosu praised the Federal Government’s commitment to domestic refining.
He recalled that successive administrations relied heavily on exporting crude oil for refining abroad, only to import refined products at high costs.
“It is better for Nigeria to refine its oil locally. Local refining will ultimately lead to cheaper fuel and economic stability,” he said.
Chief Nwosu concluded by applauding President Tinubu’s reforms in security, agriculture and the oil sector, calling for sustained efforts to consolidate the gains already recorded.
Chief Nwosu also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to critically review the ongoing tax law reforms, particularly as they affect small businesses and the general population.
He said while reforms are necessary to grow the economy, greater consideration should be given to small and medium-scale enterprises that are still struggling to remain afloat in the current economic climate.
According to the APC chieftain, increased tax obligations should be targeted more at large corporations with stronger financial capacity, rather than placing additional pressure on small-scale businesses and ordinary Nigerians.
“Small businesses are still struggling to survive. Tax reforms should protect them, while bigger companies with stronger capacity should bear a greater share of the tax burden,” Chief Nwosu said.
He stressed that a balanced tax system would encourage business growth, create jobs and ease economic hardship for the masses.
